I am confident that the office will continue to deliver the changes needed to keep ACT children, young people and their families safe, strong and connected.

ACT Emergency Services Agency—stations

MR GENTLEMAN: My question is to the Minister for Police and Emergency Services. Minister, can you please outline for the Assembly how progress is being achieved in regard to the government's station upgrade and relocation strategy?

MR CORBELL: I thank Mr Gentleman for the question. On 2 November 2011 I released the government's Emergency Services Agency station upgrade and relocation strategy and its implementation plan. I also announced the commencement of community consultation for phase 1 of that strategy, which was to propose and plan for the development of new ESA stations in Charnwood, Aranda and in south Tuggeranong.

I am very pleased to advise that the government has progressed implementation of the strategy. In last year's budget we provided funding of just over $21 million for the construction of a new co-located ambulance and fire station in west Belconnen, in the Charnwood group centre. After an open tender process, Manteena Pty Ltd were the successful tenderer and construction commenced in September last year.

Construction is now at a very advanced stage. The builder, Manteena, and the ESA anticipate that the new station will be completed and operational later this year. The project will be delivered within the allocated budget and I am advised that it is also being delivered on time.

The new station project includes the construction of a roundabout at the main intersection of Charnwood Place and Lhotsky Street, which I know has been a concern for residents in west Belconnen for quite some time. My colleagues in Ginninderra have all raised the importance that the community places on that upgrade to the road network in the Charnwood group centre. So not only are we getting good benefits from the development of a new fire and ambulance station for west Belconnen; we are also seeing improvements in local area traffic management at the Charnwood group centre.

The development of the new Charnwood fire and ambulance station will for the first time deliver a dedicated ambulance presence for the west Belconnen community. The government is very proud that it is delivering improved emergency service coverage for the growing area of west Belconnen. We have obviously seen significant growth in suburbs in the west Belconnen district and, as a result, the need for improved ambulance cover in particular has become more and more pressing. So the government is responding to this need, delivering the new ambulance and fire station. Obviously the new fire capability will replace the now old and outdated existing west Belconnen fire station and provide a state-of-the art facility for our hardworking firefighters and ambulance officers, who do such an important job in providing emergency services to our community.